Deuces Wild

“I told you to wait for me.” I look up to see Deuce standing over me. I’m sitting in one of the seats in the cafeteria. They are low to the ground so it makes him look taller than he already is. He did tell me to wait for him. I’m not a dog who follows commands. Maybe if he was a little sweeter to me then I would have waited for him. But since he was being his usual asshole self, I decided not to. I’m still amazed that the people around here put up with his crap.

Owen all but told Aly—as I learned he called Ace because she aces everything she does—to stay put when he got to the cafeteria but the way that he said it had even me melting. ‘Babe, sit your cute ass down while I get my woman some food. Hang with your new friend.”

Then he’d kissed her and strolled off. Yeah, if Deuce had done that to me I would have sat there in shock for twenty minutes and then tried to figure out what the hell he was up to. I know I could make things easy for Deuce but it’s fun to defy him. I love when he gets all riled up after I give him the business. I love trying to find different ways to mess with him. He almost makes it too easy for me, which has me thinking I’m not the only one enjoying myself. Sometimes I wonder if he tells me to do something only to watch me do the opposite of whatever he says.

“How’s that bossing me around thing working out for you?” I ask as I drop my gaze from his back down to the table where I am hanging out with Owen and Aly. She didn’t believe me about the party and is really fascinated by it. She doesn’t seem like the party type but she will be coming this Friday because, in her words, I’ve got to see this.

“Why don’t you have any food?” Deuce asks, not answering my question but asking his own. I shrug. The cafeteria is a little intimidating. Plus why buy food here? I’ll eat when I get back to Deuce’s place where the food will be free. My breakfast sandwich can hold me over even if my stomach is trying to disagree with me at the moment. I never really ate lunch at my old high school. I didn’t love the crowds and sometimes the cafeteria got rowdy. That’s what I used to tell myself anyway to make myself feel better about it. It being not able to afford buying lunch there.

“She can have some of mine.” Aly starts to push her overloaded tray my way that Owen had gotten the two of them. Owen reaches out, stopping her and pulling the tray back in front of his girl. Aly scowls at him for a brief moment, which causes him to smile and kiss her cheek.

“I’ll get her food. You eat.” Owen starts to stand.

“He thinks I don’t eat enough.” Aly rolls her eyes and pushes the tray back in between us. This time it’s Deuce who leans down over me. His body presses into my back as he pushes the tray back to Ace.

“I can get her lunch.” His face is next to mine now with the way he’s bent down. I peer over at him to see he’s looking at Owen. “She is my responsibility.” Those words hit a sensitive spot deep inside me. My mom had uttered the same ones many times while she was putting me down. Letting me know that eighteen is no longer her responsibility and I better remember that. Deuce had to add that little bit of asshole in there. He can’t help himself. For a minute, I thought he was going to do something nice because he was trying to be a decent human being or maybe trying to be my friend but no, he is doing it out of duty. Because everyone believed this made-up story that I am his cousin, his responsibility. I swear I have the urge to punch him. It’s funny how much my emotions fluctuate when I’m around him.

“Then get it.” Owen drops back down in his seat, putting his arm around Aly. He is one of the few who don’t seem intimidated by Carter. I think it’s more lack of care. All of Owen’s focus is on Aly. He doesn’t have time for Carter’s bullshit. That makes two of us. Deuce’s mixed signals are messing with my head. I’m not so sure I’m enjoying these games we are playing with each other anymore. It is starting to become clear I’ll be the one getting hurt. His comment already cut deeper than it should have.

“I’m not hungry,” I say as I stand and begin to gather my things. I shoot Carter a look of death letting him know not to mess with me. I thank Owen and Aly for their good company before I walk away knowing, like always when Carter is near, everyone is watching.